'Collections of travels through Turky into Persia, and the East Indies. Giving an account of the present state of those countries, as also a full relation of the five years wars, between Aureng-Zebe and his brothers in their father's life time, about the succession. And a voyage made by the Great Mogul (Aureng-Zebe) with his Army from Dehli to Lahor, from Lahor to Bember, and from thence to the Kingdom of Kachemire, by the Mogols, call'd, the Paradise of the Indies. Together with a relation of the Kingdom of Japan and Tunkin, and of their particular manners and trade. To which is added a new description of the Grand Seignior's Seraglio, and also of all the Kingdoms that encompass the Euxine and Caspian Seas, being the travels of Monsieur TavernierBernier, and other great men.' [‎45] (594/1024)

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A Relation of the Grand Seignors Seraglio. ^ “
The Gale is the faine with the Gold and Silver ready coya’d, and all the jewel-.,
and whatever elfe thole bdlas were pollefs’d of. But as to their Saddles which
ordinarily are cover’d with Plates of Gold of the thiclcnefs of a Ducat, they are
put into the hands of the Imkobor-basbi, who is the Mafier of the Horfe and
come noc with ti the Seraglio. 3
There are beiides, in the very fame Chamber, feveral other Coffers of different
Bulks, wherein there is contain’d^ abundance of moft precious things. Some of
them are full of rich Swords, adorn’d with precious Stones, as allb of Sabres
which have the lame Ornaments. For the ‘Xurkj when thevareon Idtorle-back
make tile of both Sabres and Swords, of a good length, and fomewhat broader
than ours. They wear the Sabre on one fide, and fallen the Sword all along the
Saddle, as they alio do the Battle-Axe, yet lb as that this laft paffes under their
Thighs, which cannot incommode them much, becaufe when they are mounted
they ride with very Ihort Stirrups. The Sides, and the Handles of the Battle-
Axes which they carry in Triumph, arealfo covered with precious Stones- and
in ail their Accoutrements the Turks are Magnificent, and do noc fpare for Monev.
When the Grand Seignor defigns to honour a he fends him one of thole
Swords, or one of thole Sabres, with a Veil of Gold-Brockado, lin’d with tome
rich Fur. But thele fumptuous Pieces do but pafs to and fro, in as much as that
upon the Death of the Bajfa’t, whofe Effaces fail to the Grand Seignor. and
conlequencly are brought into the Seraglio, they arc ftill found again in the Trea-
Jury, as in their Center.
there are yet other Coffers fill’d with Amber gceece, the precious Wood TceufeofAtoci
Calrd Lignum Aloes ^ and Sandal-wood. There is a certain fort of this Lignum-Aloes Wood ufed in
which is worth a thoufand Crowns the Pound, according as it k Fat, or Oily the Turke y #
mofi Oily being always the bell, and the furks are very expenfive in this Aloes
Wood.* When fome Perfons come to vifit them, and ailoon as they are fate
down, it is their cuftom to prefent them with a Pipe of Tobacco, with fome
Lignum Aloes in it, which is done after this manner. They take of that Wood
according to the Oylinefs of it, and confequently its making a greater fumigation’
the quantity of a Pea, or a fmall Bean, and alter they have moifWd it a little
they put it over a few Coals in a Chafing-difli, in a kind of Perfuming-Pot.
which they prefent one after another, to all the Company. There comes out
•a thick Steam or Exhalation, wherewith everyone Perfumes his Head and his
Beard, and fometimes the in-fide of his Turbant, after which he lifts up his hands
on high,^ crying Elmendda^ that is to fay, Lbankj be to God. But before they prefent
tnem with the Perfuming-pot, there is fome Role-water brought in a Veffel of
Gold, or Silver, according to the Quality of thole who make the Vifit. This Vef-
lel is commonly a foot in height, the lower part of it being about the b'gnefs of a
mans fift, and from thence growing gradually fmaller and fmaller to the top of it,
which is about the bignefs of ones little finger. Ac the top of it there is a little
hole, out of which comes thellofe~water, wherewith they wafh their hands and faces;
and then hold them over the fuffiimigacion of the Lignum Aloes ^ which not only dries
up die water, but alfo Picks, fo much theclofer to the hair of the Head and Beard.
. There are al fo in thole Coffers abundance of Aromatical Simples, and precious n r R ■
Dmgs, Bezedr-SioneSj and Pore of Mj/?^ wherewith the SultaneJJes, and the young
Maids of the Seraglio pafs away their time. They have of it perpetually in thtir fajbion than
Mouths, - and this Maficlgiweetais the Breath, and cleanfes the Teeth, upon which ours '
kore they are the better bdov’d. *
. There may be feen alfo in the fame Chamber, and in other Cc ff.Ts, abundance
pi Late, both Gold and^ Silver, which is never us'd, the Grand Seignor having
other pieces, for his ordinary ufc, in the Kilar, whatever is ferv’d up to his own
1 able being altogether in Pcurcelaim
, are, amongp other Pieces, feveral BaPns and Ev/crs, whereof fome are
punch'd with feveral forts of precious Stones. Thofe Bafins are of a fafhion more
commodious than that of ours, and it is an evident Mark of the cleanlinefs of the
fvantmes. ^ They are round , and about half a foot in depth, and cover’d as
? Wcl:e a Plate or Server, full of little holes, which makes the concavity of
!• P equal height with the fides, and fo hides the dirtinefs of the water which
pes at the bottom of it. They do noc rife after their refeTion, in TW%;q till they
G 3 hxvf.